Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 246-915A WAC, Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, the board of physical therapy (board) is considering adding a new section to chapter 246-915A WAC to implement provisions of HB 1278 (chapter 108, Laws of 2017). This law approved Washington state membership in the interstate physical therapy licensure compact (PTLC) and requires the board to adopt rules to implement the compact.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The law requires at least ten states to pass legislation to establish a PTLC. Washington was the 10th state to enact the PTLC. The compact's provisions are now in effect, and creates an interstate commission, to which Washington will send a delegate to provide oversight to the compact. Rules are being considered by the board to comply with HB 1278, which requires the board to review the rules adopted by the commission. The compact commission rules are not effective in Washington unless the board adopts them. The PTLC will allow well-qualified physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to obtain expedited practice privileges across any or all compact member states. The goal of the PTLC is to promote license portability and facilitate telehealth, which will provide greater access to physical therapy services, especially in rural and underserved areas in Washington.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kris Waidely, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4847, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email kris.waidely@doh.wa.gov, web site doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Notices will be emailed through GovDelivery https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new to the board's interested parties list. At the formal proposal stage of rule making, proposed rule language will be posted on the department's rules comments web site for public comment up to the date of the public hearing. All members of the public are invited to participate in the rule-making rules workshops and attend the rules public hearing to provide comments and testimony.